Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir emphasized the unique bond between the people and the military and rejected foreign-driven narratives trying to create divisions, the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
Speaking in Peshawar during a discussion with political leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, General Asim Munir said: “There is a special relationship between the people and the army. False narratives of a rift are basically driven by specific agendas from abroad.”
Reaffirming Pakistan’s policy priorities, the army chief said, “Our policy is solely focused on Pakistan.” Regarding relations with Afghanistan, he said: “Afghanistan is our brotherly Islamic neighbor and Pakistan has always sought better relations with it.”
However, he emphasized that Pakistan’s differences with Afghanistan stem solely from “the presence of miscreants in Afghanistan and cross-border terrorism, which must be addressed.”
Clarifying that there are no plans for major military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, General Munir added: “No area in Pakistan is under the control of these miscreants. Intelligence-based targeted operations are being conducted as needed.”
Calling for unity against terrorism, he stated, “The state must take precedence over politics. If the state is compromised, there is nothing else left. We must stand together, free of partisanship, to confront terrorism.”
The army chief also highlighted the importance of learning from past mistakes. “Humans are fallible, but failing to acknowledge mistakes and learn from them is a bigger mistake,” he said.
On the National Action Plan, he praised the consensus among political parties but called for swift action to implement its provisions effectively.
